The game of darts is believed to have evolved from archery and began as a pub game in the early part of the 20th century. It was particularly popular In the UK throughout the 1970s and 1980s and in recent years, has become increasingly popular in Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands and Australia.
It is an absorbing sport which still attracts bumper crowds and major tournaments are regularly priced up by major bookmakers. Betting on darts has become increasingly prevalent over the past decade and events such as the World Championship and the World Match-play have become hugely significant wagering events. We take a look at how to bet intelligently on darts and provide advice and tips which will hopefully help you make wiser decisions before placing a wager:
Types of Bet
Tournament Outright
The majority of tournaments will be priced up a week in advance although major events such as the World Championship will often be available months in advance. Tournament betting requires your chosen player to be victorious and to be the last player standing. They will be required to progress to the final two before securing the title. Each-way betting is available on darts tournaments and although each bookmaker’s terms will vary, your player will be required to make the final two in order for you to receive a pay-out.
Handicaps
Darts can throw up a number of one-sided matches, particularly during the early stages of a tournament. Favourites can often start a game at extremely prohibitive odds and the average bettor is unlikely to wager at this price. This market is about getting greater value from backing the favourites or giving the underdog a chance. If you believe that the outsider can keep remain competitive and give the favourite a bit of a scare, the + handicap is ideal.
If the format of a tournament is first to six sets, the +2.5 handicap allows the underdog to stay within two sets of the favourite. You would be able to cash in your bet if the score ended 6-5 or 6-4. 5+ [2.5 sets] = 7.5, 4+ [2.5 sets] = 6.5.
If the score ended 6-3, unfortunately your bet would lose. 3+ [2.5 sets] = 5.5
Punters who believe that the favourite will cruise to a straightforward win, you can back them to win by a clear number of sets. Using the same example of -2.5 sets, a winning score-line of 6-1, 6-2 or even 6-3 would result in a pay-out. 6- [2.5 sets] = 3.5 and that would still be higher than the opponent’s total.
180s
Throwing 180s is a huge part of the game and they always provokes a roar of approval from the crowd. There are numerous 180s markets available with online bookmakers and these can be a great way of betting of a game of darts without having to predict the outcome. ‘Big Hitters’ tend to be players who have the accuracy to land numerous 180s per match and these type of competitors are always worth backing on the ‘Most 180s’ markets.
If you’ve backed a player to hit the highest number of 180s, they only need to outscore their opponent in this field. If they lose the match but hit six more 180s than their opponent, you would still be paid out regardless of the defeat.
Some players tend to play a hugely tactical game and move around the board as opposed to always aiming for 180s. During the latter part of his career on the tour, Phil Taylor tended to aim for treble 19s as opposed to treble 20s and this made him a poor bet in the 180s market.
If you think it’s going to be a high-scoring contest with very little between the players, you can bet on ‘Total 180s’. If you bet on Over 10.5 180s, you will require at least 11 in order for your bet to be successful. Matches which involve evenly matched players and expected to be long contests are often good for these markets.
In Play Betting
Darts is a hugely competitive sport and the momentum can change direction in the blink of an eye. This makes it an ideal proposition for in-play betting. Once the game has begun, bettors can still get involved and the constant fluctuations are perfect for obtaining value.
Some players are notorious fast-starters but often fail to maintain their high level of performance throughout the entire game. They can be backed at the beginning of the match and once they go in front, it is often a good idea to back their opponent. If you do your maths correctly, you can ensure that you make a profit regardless of the result.
Pricing of alternative markets will also change throughout the game. If the first set is played and there was just a single 180 thrown, then this is the perfect chance to take advantage of the in-play market. If the pre-match market is set at Under/Over 7.5 180s, by the time that the first set is complete, it may have reduced to Under/Over 5.5 due to the paucity of 180s during the early stages of the game. However, matches naturally become more competitive as they reach the business end and during the latter stages, players can often throw more 180s as they desperately search for big scores.
If you’re betting in-play, it is always advised to watch the match and get a feel for the pattern of play. If a player is missing their doubles by the narrowest of margins, it could be worth backing them to start picking up some points in the later stages.
Things to Consider
BDO / PDC
There are two major darts bodies who regulate the various competitions. The BDO and PDC have two completely separate sets of players following an acrimonious split in the early 1990s. The PDC circuit is generally considered to be superior so when betting on these tournament, they will have more markets available but the quality of game is likely to be higher. Players are less likely to make errors or have ‘off days’ on the PDC whereas many of the BDO players are not paid as highly and have less experience in front of the TV cameras and playing in front of big crowds.
Player Schedules
Similar to other solo sports, player well-being and mood can greatly affect the outcome of any match. Always study a players schedule and ensure that they aren’t going to put in a below-par performance. Competitors who are racking up the miles and coming into a tournament during a particularly busy period can often be less focused than their opponent. Players who are competing in Australia on Sunday and then having to fly back to the UK to squeeze in a practice session before another round of Premier League darts on the Thursday are unlikely to be fully focussed and may still be suffering from jet lag.
Players will often give you an idea of how punishing their schedules are via their social media account and this can be a great way of avoiding potential upsets.
Current Form
Confidence is a massive factor in sport and players can often be hard to stop when they are riding the crest of a wave. Always back a player who is in a purple patch. Every run has to end at some point but if your chosen player is winning TV tournaments and beating players ranked above them, this is a good sign. If you can spot an up and coming player before the bookmakers, it can be a great way of turning a profit.
Sometimes, players are feeling under the weather or aren’t playing with their usual swagger and these should be avoided.
Tournament Preference and Location
Similar to the majority of individual sports, certain players will flourish at particular venues. Phil Taylor was prolific at the World Matchplay in Blackpool and told reporters that it was his favourite tournament on the darts calendar. Always check a player’s tournament history before placing a wager.
Particular venues will bring out the best in some players and this is always worth bearing in mind. During the Premier League, many players will compete at a tournament close to home. In 2018. Daryl Gurney excelled in front of a Northern Irish crowd whilst any Scouse or North Eastern player is always likely to get an excellent reception during the Liverpool and Newcastle legs of the tour. Being close to home and having a partisan home crowd willing them on tends to help lift a player’s performance.
Tips and Strategies
• Explore the different markets available. Don’t just stick to the outright market.
• Always check a player’s tournament history before placing a wager
• Keep up-to-date with a player’s current mind-set using social media
• Don’t be afraid to change your opinion halfway through a match. Betting in-play allows profit to be made mid-match.
• Do your research
